The document discusses the growing need for skilled workers in India's retail industry. It notes that the organized retail sector is a Rs 200,000 Cr business growing over 40% annually, and will require 210,000 new customer sales associates by 2012. However, over 73% of retail managers report a significant shortage of necessary store-level skills. The proposal aims to address this shortage through a partnership between City & Guilds and Manipal Education to develop vocational training qualifications tailored to the retail industry. The first qualification, a 125-hour Level 1 Certificate in Retail Skills, would teach essential customer service and store operations skills to entry-level retail workers.